'Good Day' names new co-anchor

WELCOME Alex Holley to Fox 29's "Good Day Philadelphia" anchor desk. She'll sit beside Mike Jerrick starting Sept. 2. Holley replaces Sheinelle Jones, who left the station in March to be with her family.

Holley comes to Philly from WMBF, an NBC affiliate in South Carolina, where she was a reporter and morning anchor. An alum of the prestigious University of Missouri journalism program, Holley originally hails from Irving, Texas, right outside Dallas.

"I'm so excited and I just can't hide it! Seriously, I am thrilled to welcome Alex to the 'Good Day Philadelphia' team as my new partner! She is smart, witty and funny and I know Philly is gonna love her," Jerrick said in a statement about his new seatmate.

Follow Holley on Twitter at @AlexHolleyTV.

In other Fox 29 news, Kerry Barrett returns from maternity leave in a couple of weeks to start working the morning shift. Karen Hepp is on at night.

Ed Lover, best known as the host of the classic hip-hop show "Yo! MTV Raps," will join the Philly weekend airwaves on WRNB, 100.3. His shift will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 3 to 7 p.m. Sundays.

"I am honored and privileged to be a part of a winning team. I will do my absolute best to entertain the great people of Philadelphia and I look forward to a beautiful relationship with the City of Brotherly Love," Lover told AllAccess.com.

Lover's official welcome will happen during the station's Red, White, Blue & You party cruise on July Fourth.

This might be your last time to appear alongside David Letterman, who is set to retire from his desk in 2015. CBS3 is hosting auditions for Stupid Human and Stupid Pet Tricks on Saturday at the Trump Taj Mahal (1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City). Human auditions take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Glass Tournament Room. Pet auditions will take place from 1:20 to 3 p.m. on the Boardwalk in front of the casino.

After Lainie Kazan performs at the Rrazz Room (6426 Lower York Road, New Hope) this weekend, she'll start working with Adam Sandler on his new movie "Pixels," about video games competing with the human race.

There's just one snafu: "It's very futuristic, very avant garde," Kazan said. "I don't really understand it at all. It's very out there."

But not understanding the plot is a hitch that Kazan can get over, especially because in the fall she'll return to familiar territory, reprising her role as Nia Vardalos' mother in the just announced sequel to the megahit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Kazan has no word yet on the plot but relays rumors that it may be her granddaughter getting hitched this time.

But before all that, Kazan will be at the Rrazz Room performing her show of standards and classic songs. She runs through her life and loves, and talks about her experiences in shows like "Funny Girl," which she opened in Philadelphia.

"It's just me," Kazan said about the show. "There's no theme but me."

For more info on tickets call, 888-596-1027 or go to therrazzroom.com.

Jon Marks and Sean Brace, from 97.5 the Fanatic, will host a live World Cup viewing party on Thursday at Pagano's at Commerce Square (20th and Market). The play-by-play will air on the station starting at noon, but Marks and Brace will do the halftime show before throwing back to the game.

Congrats to the Daily News' own Flyers beat man Frank Seravalli and wife Megan. They are the proud parents of Christian James, who was born Monday night at 9:14 p.m. at a healthy 8 pounds, 14 ounces. No word yet on when proud papa will put him in goal.